A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos on Friday heard allegations that one of the suspects standing trial over the 2026 Angwa Rukuba killings led more than 100 armed militants in attacks on communities in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect, Adamu Alhassan Isa, popularly known as “Shagari Bangai,” is among four persons arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the Palm Sunday attack on Angwa Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area, which claimed about 30 lives.
The other suspects standing trial are Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, also known as Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, popularly called Yaroro. Another suspect, Ado Ibrahim, remains at large.
The defendants are facing charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and unlawful dealing in arms and ammunition.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution presented a DSS operative as its witness, who testified on the alleged involvement of Adamu Alhassan in a series of violent attacks across Plateau State.
According to the witness, the defendant admitted in a confessional statement that he led more than 100 armed militiamen in coordinated attacks on Vom and several surrounding villages in Riyom Local Government Area.
The DSS operative further told the court that investigations revealed that over ₦4 million suspected to be proceeds linked to terrorism financing was discovered in the defendant’s bank account at the time of his arrest.
The witness gave the testimony before Justice Danladi Longden as the prosecution continued to present evidence against the accused persons.
During cross-examination, counsel to the defendant, Mustapha Ibrahim Shaba (SAN), requested Certified True Copies of statements made by both the arresting officer and the investigating officer.
The defence argued that the documents were necessary to compare with photocopies already supplied by the prosecution as part of the trial process.
Following the application, the court directed the prosecution to make the requested documents available to the defence.
Justice Longden subsequently adjourned the matter to July 3, 2026, for continuation of hearing and further proceedings in the case.